In the press release for Star Wars: Episode IX it was officially confirmed that both Mark Hamill‘s Luke Skywalker and Billy Dee Williams‘ Lando Calrissian will be returning for the sequel. How either of them will factor into the film has yet to be revealed.

There also seems to be a lot of unused footage from The Force Awakens and will be used for the return of Carrie Fisher‘s General Organa.

The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” says Abrams. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”

Filming begins August 1st at Pinewood Studios UK and Lucasfilm has set the release date for December 20, 2019.